Finishing machine



Sept. 4, 1951 H. c. WARNER FINISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1949 gi s Warm INVENTOR.

i; ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 4, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,567,090 FiNI'S'HItIG MACHINE Homer 0. Warner, Gleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Lees-Bradner Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporationof Ohio 8 Claims.

This invention relates to afl'r-iishing machine, which is particularly adapted to the finish non-circular articles. I

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means for finishing articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means which may be used to finish surfaces, which are either parallel to a'naxis or arranged obliquely thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which will be -simple in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which will be capable of finishing a large number of articles without reshaping the surfaces of the finishing tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which will permit easy and rapid reforming of the finishing tool.

Another object of the invention-is to provide an improved finishing means which will be automatic in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which will becomposed of few and simple parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which will occupy little floor space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finishing means which may be operated with little power.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a finishing machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of line IIIIII of Figure 1.; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line IV--IV of Figure 1.

The machine illustrated is supported one base I, shown as a frame conveniently made of casting and resting upon the floor.

In this frame are formed supports for bearings in which are journalled two vertical spindles, a tool spindle 2 and a controlling spindle 3.

The spindles are driven, respectively, from two vertical shafts 4 and 5, also supported in bearings in frame I, power being transmitted to these shafts from a central vermin shaft -6 to which the power is suppliedbran-electric "motor-1,-

.2 through motor shaft a carrying a worm -9mesh ing-with a worm wheel in fixed to shaft-"B.

An elongated pinion H is formed in or secured to shaft 6 and meshes with gears l2 and 1-3 keyed to shafts 4 and 5, respectively, to'per-mit variations inelevation of'gears l2 and L3 as may be required in properly adjusting the elevation of spindles 2 and 3.

The upper ends of shafts land 5 are formed into pinions M and I5, respectively, which-in turn mesh, respectively, with gears "Sand 41. Internal gear 16 is fixed to a spider or wheel 18 secured to shaft 2, while internal gear I is similarly fixed to a spider or wheel l9 keyedto spindle '3.

The upper sides of the wheels l8 and iQ-a'r-e overlaid and thus protected from theentranc Of fdilit by covers 20 and 2!. a

It will be noted that the undersides of wheels hi and I9- are provided with annular grooves 2-2, and that projecting upwardly into these g reoves are annular flanges 23 formed on the top base I, providingtroughs which may be filled with lubricant to act as seals preventing the passage of the abrasive, dirt or the like under the wheels 18 and I9 to the interior of the mechanism.

7 Carried on the exterior of wheel 18, and clamped between an outwardly extending bottom flange on this wheel and the margin of cover'20 by machine'screws 25,-is a tool shown as a lap 24 having helically arranged lands, in general in longitudinal section in the shape of rackteeth capable of meshing with the-teeth of the work gear to be produced.

Similarly mounted on spider wheel i9 is a control element 25, being clamped between the bottom flange of the wheel and cover 21 by machine screws 21 and being provided with helically arranged lands corresponding in size and shape 'to those of the lap 2-4. The control cle me'nt 26 is-preferably composed-of relatively hard material and is lubricated to minimize wear or distortion thereon.

Mounted on one side of the base, and angula'rlyadjustable about a horizontal axis, is 'a supporting bracket or frame 28, this being shown as held against the vertical side-of the base by machine screws 29 passing through arcuate-slots 3 also carried by the bracket and driven independently of motor 1.

Upon the top of casing 3| are formed guide- Ways 35 extending in general parallel to the axis of shaft 32 and on these guideways is slidably mounted a carriage 36 provided with upwardly extending bearings 37 and with a depending pin reciprocable in a slot through the top of casing 3| and received in the groove of cam 33.

Bearings 31 carry a pin or shaft 38 on which is pivotally mounted a supporting bracket 39.

This bracket is urged toward lap 24 and control 26 by a tension spring 40, while its motion in this direction is limited by a set screw 4| threaded through the bracket and having its lower end arranged to engage slide 36.

A shaft 42 is journalled at the upper portion of bracket 39 and is provided at one end with a control gear 43 meshing with control element 26;

while at the other end it is arranged to receive and hold a work gear 44 engaging the lap 24.

The parts above described are all that function during the normal operation upon a work piece, and their operation in finishing such a piece is as follows:

The work piece 44 is fixed to shaft 42 and the spring allowed to bring this work piece into contact with tool or lap 24.

This lap is preferably composed of soft material, such for example as lead, and is supplied with abrasive compound.

Motors 1 and 34 are started; the former rotates control 26 and lap 24 at a related-in the machine illustrated, the speed and the lands of parts 26 and 24, respectively, are engaged by the control gear 43 and the work gear 44.

Thus, the work gear is positively rotated and true involute tooth surfaces are generated on the portion of the Work gear lying in a plane through the axis of spindle 2 and perpendicular to the plane through the axes of spindles 2 and 3.

To distribute this generative action throughout the length of the work gear teeth, the carriage 36 is reciprocated by motor 34 through cam 33, and carries with it shaft 42, control gear 43 and work gear 44 so that the teeth of the work gear are uniformly lapped throughout their entire length to correct shape. The depth to which these teeth may be lapped is limited by set screw 4! so that accurate pitch diameter is assured.

Inasmuch as the material of the lap is soft and somewhat malleable, its lands in time become distorted, and, to correct this distortion, I have provided the reshaping means shown most clearly at the right hand side of Figure 4.

This shape-correcting mechanism consists of a roller 46 having circular lands and grooves conjugate to the lands and grooves of lap 24, the roller being supported about an inclined axis to compensate for the helical lead of the lap and to bring the lands and grooves of the lap and roller, where they contact, into accurate alignment.

This roller is supported upon a carriage 4T, horizontally slidable, by means of a screw 48 actuated by a crank 49, upon the top of a bracket 50, which, in turn, is supported on vertical guides 5| and may be moved up and down by means of a lead screw 52. The lead screw is shown as carrying a bevel gear 53 rotatable on the screw and in mesh with a bevel gear 55 keyed to the remote end of shaft 8 of motor 1.

Another bevel gear 54 is journalled on screw 52 and a jaw clutch 56 is provided between bevel gears 53 and 54, being keyed to screw 52 for looking either gear to screw 52, so that the operator 2,567,090 '1; i v J may selectively cause motor 'I to raise or lower bracket 50.

It will be understood that the ratio of gears 53, 54, 55 and the lead of screw 52 are so chosen that forming roller 46 advances or retracts at precisely the rate determined by the correct lead of the helix of the lap 24. It will of course be borne in mind that screw 52, through shaft 8 is positively geared to the drive of spindle 2, which insures accuracy in the reforming of the helix angle of the tool lands, while of course the crosssectional shape of the rollers insures the swaging of the lap material to proper tooth cross sectional form. r i

While I have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention in some particularity, ob-

. viously many other embodiments, variations,

and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise detail shown and described herein, but claim as my invention all embodiments, modifications and variations comingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lappingmachine comprising a base, two parallel spindles rotatably mounted in the base, positive driving connections between said spindles, a lap having a helical land carried by one of said spindles, a worm carried by the other of said spindles, angularly adjustable ways carried by the base, a carriage slidable in said ways, bearings movably carried by said carriage, resilient means urging said bearing toward said spindles, a work spindle carried by said bearings, a toothed element on said work spindle in engagement with said worm, and work holding means on said work spindle adjacent said lap.

2. A lapping machine comprising a base, two parallel spindles rotatably mounted in the base, positive driving connections between said spindles, a lap having a helical land carried by one of said spindles, a worm carried by the other of said spindles, angularly adjustable ways carried by the base, a carriage slidable in said ways, bearings movable carried by said carriage, resilient means urging said bearings toward said spindles, an adjustable stop limiting the motion of said bearings, a work spindle carried by said bearings, a gear on said work spindle in engagement with said worm, and work holding means on said work spindle adjacent said lap.

3. A lapping machine comprising two parallel spindles, a lap carried by one of said spindles including a helical land, a worm carried by the other spindle and including a helical land, positive driving connections between the spindles causing the lap and worm to rotate in predetermined relation, a work spindle, a toothed ele-' ment fixed to the work spindle with its teeth engaging the land. of the worm, means recipro causing the lap and worm to rotate in predetermined relation, a work spindle, a toothed element fixed to the work spindle with its teeth engaging the land of the worm, means reciprocably supporting the work spindle, work holding means carried by the work spindle, and driving m n re rqqate se e wees sp n l a a e silient element urging the work spindle toward the two first mentioned spindles.

5. A lapping machine comprising two parallel spindles, a lap carried by one of said spindles including a helical land, a worm carried by the other spindle and including a helical land, positive driving connections between the spindles causing the lap and worm to rotate in predetermined relation, a work spindle, a toothed element fixed to the work spindle with its teeth engaging the land of the worm, means reciprocably supporting the work spindle, work holding means carried by the work spindle, driving means reciprocating said work spindle, a resilient element urging the work spindle toward the two first mentioned spindles, and stop means limiting the motion of the work spindle toward the two first mentioned spindles.

6. A lapping machine comprising two parallel spindles relatively adjustable axially, a lapcarried by one of said spindles and including a helical land, a worm carried by the other spindle and having a helical land of identical dimensions to that of the lap, positive gearing between said spindles causing them to rotate at the same speed, driving means connected to said gearing, a carriage reciprocable in a direction generally tangent to the lands on the lap and worm, driving means reciprocating said carriage, a work spindle journalled in the carriage, a toothed element fixed to the work spindle engaging the land of the worm, work holding means carried by said spindle adjacent said lap and resilient means urging said work spindle toward said two first mentioned spindles.

7. A lapping machine comprising two parallel spindles relatively adjustable axially, a lap carried by one of said spindles and including a helical land, a worm carried by the other spindle and having a helical land of identical dimensions to that of the lap, positive gearing between said spindles causing them to rotate at the same speed, driving means connected to said gearing, a carriage reciprocable in a direction generally tangent to the lands on the lap and worm, driving means reciprocating said carriage, a work spindle journalled in the carriage, a toothed element fixed to the work spindle engaging the land of the worm, the teeth of said element being of sufiicient length to remain in engagement with the teeth of said worm during the reciprocation of the lap at a point lying in a line perpendicular to the axes of the worm and the work spindle, work holding means carried by said spindle adjacent said lap and resilient means urging said work spindle toward said two first mentioned spindles.

,8. A lapping machine comprising two parallel spindles relatively adjustable axially, a lap carried by one of said spindles and including a helical land, a worm carried by the other spindle and having a helical land of identical dimensions to that of the lap, positive gearing between said spindles causing them to rotate at the same speed, driving means connected to said gearing,

a carriage reciprocable in a direction. generally tangent to the lands on the lap and worm, driving means reciprocating said carriage, a work spindle journalled in the carriage, a toothed element fixed to the work spindle engaging the land of the worm, work holding means carried by said spindle adjacent said lap and resilient means urging said work spindle toward said two first mentioned spindles, the work spindle being angularly adjustable about an axis perpendicular to the plane determined by the spindles.

HOMER C. WARNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,032,974 Weaver July 16, 1912 1,194,566 Stewart Aug. 15, 1916 1,708,570 Hanson Apr. 9, 1929 2,377,241 Kavle May 29, 1945 2,482,785 Lohutko Sept. 27, 1949 

